History & Achievements

In late 1984, a group of women who had taken part in the seminar ‘Women’s Choices, Women’s Lives’ decided they needed to do more than just make or listen to speeches about the situation of women in Singapore. They felt what was needed was a women’s group able to campaign for gender equality in a coherent and consistent way, basing its arguments on research and a thorough understanding of the issues. Thus, AWARE was formed. We officially came into being on 25 November 1985.

Since then, our work has contributed to these changes in laws and policies in Singapore:

2011

Submission of our third CEDAW Shadow Report to the United Nations, highlighting areas of gender inequality in Singapore

Launch of the Sexual Assault Befrienders Service, the first support service for survivors of sexual assault in Singapore

Our research and feedback contributed to the deletion of Section 157(d) of the Evidence Act, an archaic law that makes it possible to discredit an alleged sexual assault victim through her sexual history

2007

Revisions to the penal code, including issues of marital rape

United Nations recognition of the areas where Singapore has to become more compliant with CEDAW (Convention On The Elimination Of All Forms Of Discrimination Against Women)

2006

Development of legal reforms that addressed gaps in Singapore’s legislation on trafficking (in collaboration with NUS Pro Bono Law Society)

2005

Equalisation of medical benefits for male and female civil servants

2004

Constitutional amendment to accord the same citizenship rights to the children of Singaporean women as the children of Singaporean men

Government acknowledgement that men and women play equal roles as joint “heads of household”

2003

Lifting of the quota restricting female intake for the medical faculty at the National University of Singapore

2001

Appointment of former AWARE president Braema Mathiaparanam as Nominated Member of Parliament (2001-2004). She was nominated by AWARE.

1999

Policy change to allow women to sponsor their foreign spouses for citizenship or PR status

1997

Appointment of former AWARE president Claire Chiang as Nominated Member of Parliament (1997-2001)

1996

Revisions to the Women’s Charter to provide more protection for victims of domestic violence. Former AWARE president Kanwaljit Soin initiated this by introducing the Domestic Violence Bill as a Nominated Member of Parliament.